A POLICE investigation has been launched into local election tactics used by the British National Party in Liverpool.

The far-right party has posted more than 2,000 leaflets to households in Anfield and Kensington targeting an organisation which has been helping asylum-seekers find jobs.

The BNP leaflet asks residents if the help being offered 'makes them angry' and carries a slogan 'Don't get angry - get even.'

It then urges people to vote for them in today's local council elections.

But opponents urged the electorate not to fall for the tactics and to ensure the BNP is wiped out at the polls.

Today police confirmed they were carrying out an investigation to see if the leaflets could constitute an offence of inciting racial hatred.

The BNP, which is contesting three seats in Liverpool, reproduced a two-year-old poster from the Refugees for Skills and Development organisation in Garston, including its full address.

But the organisation has not been at the premises for over a year since last April.

The building is now occupied by several different organisations, including a victim support group and a centre for people with learning difficulties.

They now fear reprisals in the wake of the leaflet campaign and have asked for increased police protection.

Mike Smith, office manager for South Liverpool District Victim Support, said: "We would like to see a greater police presence and police protection for both the people working in the centre and for those who are visiting us.

"We have many vulnerable people coming to us and information which is being put out by the BNP could cause real fear.

"This information is inciting race hatred."

Refugee Action in Liverpool today accused the BNP of scaremongering and deception.

Rashid Iqbal, asylum advice manager for Refugee Action in Liverpool, said: "This is a reprehensible piece of scraremongering and deception.

"We hope and are confident that people in Liverpool will treat it with the contempt which it deserves."

Today a spokesman for Refugees for Skills and Development, now based in a local community centre, said the original leaflet had been distributed in December 2000 to help asylum seekers and refuges train for jobs her or back in their home countries.

"This BNP leaflet which is being put out is a disgrace," he said.

"It is stirring up racial hatred and I just hope the electorate sees through this and realises what the BNP is doing."

Police began an investigation after Anfield Liberal Democrat councillor Kiron Reid wrote to Merseyside Police calling for an immediate investigation after being handed a copy of the leaflet.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said today: "We can confirm that a letter has been received from Cllr Reid and the matter is being investigated."

Joe Owens, who is standing for the BNP in Anfield, said: "I want to alert the people of Anfield and Kensington to this issue."